Hasil untuk "Industrial hygiene. Industrial welfare"

Sri Handayani, Syarifah Nuraini, Yunita Fiitrianti et al.

Introduction: Since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Indonesia, the government has implemented Large-Scale Social Restrictions to control the spread of the disease. However, these restrictions have had a negative impact on the economy. To address this, the government has introduced a new normal policy to restore activities while managing the risk of transmission. The government has adopted WHO guidelines through Minister of Health Decree No. 238 of 2020 to ensure COVID-19 workplace safety. This article aims to explore the barriers to COVID-19 workplace safety among Indonesian office workers. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted in DKI Jakarta and Surabaya from September to October 2020. In-depth interviews and observations were conducted with 22 informants selected purposefully. Thematic analysis was used, drawing on the Social-ecological Model (SEM) theory. Results: At the intrapersonal level, fear and perception barriers impact preventive actions against COVID-19. At the interpersonal level, peer influence and perceptions of the work environment affect adherence to office policies. At the organizational level, employee behavior is influenced by socializing, rules, and workplace amenities. Lastly, public policy enforcement is vital at the macro level to reduce risky behaviors among office workers. Conclusion: Implementing comprehensive protocols across different levels is crucial to creating COVID-19 workplace safety. This requires increased public awareness and consistent enforcement, including strengthening organizational policies.

Caroline Carlé, Delphine Boucher, Luisa Morelli et al.

Paulina A. Dzianach, Gary A. Dykes, Norval J. C. Strachan et al.

<i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> plays a significant role in human health, food production, and veterinary practice. Biofilm formation is a likely mechanism explaining the survival of <i>C. jejuni</i> in seemingly unfavourable environments, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We propose a mathematical model to unify various observations regarding <i>C. jejuni</i> biofilm formation. Specifically, we present a cellular automaton with stochastic dynamics that describes both the probability of biofilm initiation and its subsequent growth. Our model incorporates fundamental processes such as cell rearrangement, diffusion of chemical compounds, accumulation of extracellular material, cell growth, lysis, and deactivation due to nutrient scarcity. The model predicts an optimal nutrient concentration that enhances population survival, revealing a trade-off where higher nutrient levels may harm individual cells but benefit the overall population. Our results suggest that the lower biofilm accumulation observed experimentally in aerobic conditions compared to microaerobic conditions may be due to a reduced surface invasion probability of individual cells. However, cells that do manage to invade can generate microcolonies of a similar size under both aerobic and microaerobic conditions. These findings provide new insights into the survival probability and size of <i>C. jejuni</i> biofilms, suggesting potential targets for controlling its biofilm formation in various environments.

Stephanie Wright, Flemming R. Cassee, Aaron Erdely et al.

Abstract Micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNP) are omnipresent as either pollution or intentionally used in consumer products, released from packaging or even food. There is an exponential increase in the production of plastics. With the realization of bioaccumulation in humans, toxicity research is quickly expanding. There is a rapid increase in the number of papers published on the potential implications of exposure to MNP which necessitates a call for quality criteria to be applied when doing the research. At present, most papers on MNP describe the effects of commercially available polymer (mostly polystyrene) beads that are typically not the MNP of greatest concern. This is not a fault of the research community, necessarily, as the MNPs to which humans are exposed are usually not available in the quantities needed for toxicological research and innovations are needed to supply environmentally-relevant MNP models. In addition, like we have learned from decades of research with particulate matter and engineered nanomaterials, sample physicochemical characteristics and preparation can have major impacts on the biological responses and interpretation of the research findings. Lastly, MNP dosimetry may pose challenges as (1) we are seeing early evidence that plastics are already in the human body at quite high levels that may be difficult to achieve in acute in vitro studies and (2) plastics are already in the diets fed to preclinical models. This commentary highlights the pitfalls and recommendations for particle and fibre toxicologists that should be considered when performing and disseminating the research.

Maria Antoniadou, Maria Chanioti, Asteropi Pantelaki et al.

Dental students are frequently exposed to percutaneous injuries (PCIs) due to the nature of their clinical work, which involves sharp instruments and close patient contact. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the need for stringent biosafety measures and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Despite these precautions, injuries remain prevalent, highlighting the need for comprehensive education and training in biosafety and infection control. This study investigates the incidence and causes of injuries among undergraduate dental students during clinical sessions. This study was conducted at the Department of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, focusing on injuries reported from 2021 to 2024. Data were collected through self-reported clinical records. The primary variables assessed included the type of injury, the instrument involved, the clinical procedure performed, and the immediate actions taken post-injury. Serological testing was conducted on students and patients to assess the risk of the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. The findings reveal a high prevalence of injuries, with needles being the most common cause (51.4%), followed by other tools such as dental probes (25.7%) and burs (8.6%). The most frequent injury type is piercing (74.2%), primarily affecting the fingers (88.6%). Periodontal treatments, restorative procedures, and endodontic treatments are the main activities leading to injuries, with 17.1% of injuries being caused by each. No statistically significant results are recorded. Despite regular medical records for most patients treated by injured students, serological testing shows significant positivity rates for HCV and HBV. Notably, most injured students demonstrate their commitment to safety by adhering to recommended post-exposure protocols, including wound cleaning, disinfecting, and serological testing. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 heightened the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and reinforced occupational health standards. Our study highlights the critical need for enhanced biosafety awareness and training among undergraduate dental students to reduce injury risks.

Sweelin Chew, Riikka Lampinen, Liudmila Saveleva et al.

Abstract Background The adverse effects of air pollutants including particulate matter (PM) on the central nervous system is increasingly reported by epidemiological, animal and post-mortem studies in the last decade. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key consequences of exposure to PM although little is known of the exact mechanism. The association of PM exposure with deteriorating brain health is speculated to be driven by PM entry via the olfactory system. How air pollutants affect this key entry site remains elusive. In this study, we investigated effects of urban size-segregated PM on a novel cellular model: primary human olfactory mucosal (hOM) cells. Results Metabolic activity was reduced following 24-h exposure to PM without evident signs of toxicity. Results from cytometric bead array suggested a mild inflammatory response to PM exposure. We observed increased oxidative stress and caspase-3/7 activity as well as perturbed mitochondrial membrane potential in PM-exposed cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction was further verified by a decrease in mitochondria-dependent respiration. Transient suppression of the mitochondria-targeted gene, neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1), was carried out, after being identified to be up-regulated in PM2.5–1 treated cells via RNA sequencing. Suppression of NPTX1 in cells exposed to PM did not restore mitochondrial defects resulting from PM exposure. In contrast, PM-induced adverse effects were magnified in the absence of NPTX1, indicating a critical role of this protein in protection against PM effects in hOM cells. Conclusion Key mitochondrial functions were perturbed by urban PM exposure in a physiologically relevant cellular model via a mechanism involving NPTX1. In addition, inflammatory response and early signs of apoptosis accompanied mitochondrial dysfunction during exposure to PM. Findings from this study contribute to increased understanding of harmful PM effects on human health and may provide information to support mitigation strategies targeted at air pollution.

Livia Celegati Pan, Roseli Esquerdo Lopes

The social field has increasingly requested professionals qualified to work around issues that are eminently social, among them the occupational therapist, which implies specific demands for vocational training. This study aimed to identify the discussion of social occupational therapy in the curricular contents of undergraduate courses in occupational therapy of the Federal Institutions of Higher Education in Brazil. The coordinators of these courses were interviewed and their political-pedagogical projects were analyzed, in the period between 2012 and 2013. The results show that the contents of the area are inserted in a minority way in the curricula or almost never seen. This seems to be linked not only to the lack of specific human resources and conceptual divergences, but also by norms imposed by funding programs in higher education, especially those directed to courses considered of health. Although advances in this area, no common parameter has yet been produced, accepted and practiced nationally, for its configuration in the graduation. The general education advocated by the National Curriculum Guidelines for Occupational Therapy has been developing only in the field of health, impacting areas of action that are not limited to it.

Raquel Martins, J. Duarte, Mário Vaz

Children are amongst the most vulnerable affected groups by natural and human-made disasters. Disaster preparedness education programs have been developed to help reduce risk and increase resilience for hazardous events. A better understanding is needed about children evacuation behaviour in schools and the time of evacuation. Therefore, a systematic review is proposed to search for relevant information about emergency evacuation response in schools. This systematic review protocol was developed to present adequate guidelines that can provide relevant research results to fulfil the sought objective. Sixteen databases will be accessed (Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, are some examples) and a total of three keyword expressions will be used. The selection process will be thoroughly described, including detailed data treatment and used eligibility criteria, to contribute to the general research on this field.

Jie Ji, Swapna Upadhyay, Xiaomiao Xiong et al.

Abstract Background Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are a major component of outdoor air pollution. DEP mediated pulmonary effects are plausibly linked to inflammatory and oxidative stress response in which macrophages (MQ), epithelial cells and their cell-cell interaction plays a crucial role. Therefore, in this study we aimed at studying the cellular crosstalk between airway epithelial cells with MQ and MQ polarization following exposure to aerosolized DEP by assessing inflammation, oxidative stress, and MQ polarization response markers. Method Lung mucosa models including primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI) were co-cultured without (PBEC-ALI) and with MQ (PBEC-ALI/MQ). Cells were exposed to 12.7 μg/cm2 aerosolized DEP using XposeALI ®. Control (sham) models were exposed to clean air. Cell viability was assessed. CXCL8 and IL-6 were measured in the basal medium by ELISA. The mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (CXCL8, IL6, TNFα), oxidative stress (NFKB, HMOX1, GPx) and MQ polarization markers (IL10, IL4, IL13, MRC1, MRC2 RETNLA, IL12 andIL23) were measured by qRT-PCR. The surface/mRNA expression of TLR2/TLR4 was detected by FACS and qRT-PCR. Results In PBEC-ALI exposure to DEP significantly increased the secretion of CXCL8, mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (CXCL8, TNFα) and oxidative stress markers (NFKB, HMOX1, GPx). However, mRNA expressions of these markers (CXCL8, IL6, NFKB, and HMOX1) were reduced in PBEC-ALI/MQ models after DEP exposure. TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression increased after DEP exposure in PBEC-ALI. The surface expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on PBEC was significantly reduced in sham-exposed PBEC-ALI/MQ compared to PBEC-ALI. After DEP exposure surface expression of TLR2 was increased on PBEC of PBEC-ALI/MQ, while TLR4 was decreased in both models. DEP exposure resulted in similar expression pattern of TLR2/TLR4 on MQ as in PBEC. In PBEC-ALI/MQ, DEP exposure increased the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage markers (IL10, IL4, IL13, MRC1, MRC2). Conclusion The cellular interaction of PBEC with MQ in response to DEP plays a pivotal role for MQ phenotypic alteration towards M2-subtypes, thereby promoting an efficient resolution of the inflammation. Furthermore, this study highlighted the fact that cell–cell interaction using multicellular ALI-models combined with an in vivo-like inhalation exposure system is critical in better mimicking the airway physiology compared with traditional cell culture systems.

Christian Monsé, Olaf Hagemeyer, Monika Raulf et al.

Abstract Background Inhalation of high concentrations of zinc oxide particles (ZnO) may cause metal fume fever. In an earlier human inhalation study, no effects were observed after exposure to ZnO concentrations of 0.5 mg/m3. Further data from experimental studies with pure ZnO in the concentration range between 0.5 and 2.5 mg/m3 are not available. It was the aim of this experimental study to establish the concentration-response relationship of pure nano-sized ZnO particles. Methods Sixteen healthy subjects were exposed to filtered air and ZnO particles (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/m3) for 4 h on 4 different days, including 2 h of cycling with a low workload. The effects were assessed before, immediately after, and about 24 h after each exposure. Effect parameters were symptoms, body temperature, inflammatory markers and clotting factors in blood, and lung function. Results Concentration-dependent increases in symptoms, body temperature, acute phase proteins and neutrophils in blood were detected after ZnO inhalation. Significant effects were detected with ZnO concentrations of 1.0 mg/m3 or higher, with the most sensitive parameters being inflammatory markers in blood. Conclusion A concentration-response relationship with nano-sized ZnO particles in a low concentration range was demonstrated. Systemic inflammatory effects of inhaled nano-sized ZnO particles were observed at concentrations well below the occpational exposure limit for ZnO in many countries. It is recommended to reassess the exposure limit for ZnO at workplaces.

Diego Pablo González Lagos, Guisela Escarlet Leal Barriga, Norma Lucía Monsalves Ferrada et al.

The research, “Full School Day regimen and Play Participation: A Public Policy in debt with children” shows the impact of Full School Day in Play Participation of schoolchildren of second grade who belong to municipal educational establishments of Temuco city; understanding Play Participation as “participating in the game, maintaining a balance of play with other occupations, and obtain, use and maintain toys, equipment and supplies appropriately”. The used methodology for this study is quantitative, descriptive-comparative, non-experimental and cross-sectional. The sample is selected by means of an intentional non-probabilistic sampling, participating in the study a total of 68 students who attend to Los Trigales and Campos Deportivos School, establishments that has Half School Day and Full School Day respectively. The research findings shown a play deficit of 8.6 hours per week, projecting a 344 hours deficit per year for children who attends to Full School Day, in relation to schoolchildren who attend to Half School Day; and significant differences in the balance between play and other occupations, between schoolchildren of both establishments, revealing how this public policy that configures the educational institutional environment in which schoolchildren develop daily, determines their schedules, available occupations and the distribution of activities in their routine.

Mónica Hernández Z., Daniel Lagos C., Sandra Mella D.

Formal education constitutes a main support to the process of social integration of children and adolescents with rights violations. However, the negative experiences they had lived in educational sphere might generate contrary opinions related to role that formal education have in their lives. The objective of this investigation is oriented to know and describe the sense, purpose, and meaning that formal education has for children living in a Center of Direct Administration Repair CREAD, under the National Youth Service of Chile (SENAME). The research was qualitative with a phenomenological approach and data collection was performed by applying a semi-structured interview and a projective story is considered as a method to appreciate subjectivity in a global or holistic sense. Data analysis involved coding analytical categories sorted and grouped the dimensions of meaning, purpose and meaning. The results show that positive scholar experiences adds value to this occupation, that purpose can be short-term or long-termed, and that the meaning is markedly influenced by the opinions social environment do about formal education. Also, significant differences were found between answers given by children that attended “School A” and “School B”. Results promote reflection regarding to the role CREAD must accomplish related to right to education, and about the redefinition of formal education meaning in those persons that are experiencing a process of rights restoration and social integration.

Nathalya Alessandra Lima S., Leslye Camila Carvalho S., Richelle Nogueira A. et al.

Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y de observación para verificar y describir la importancia de la utilización de un instrumento de triaje del comportamiento visomotor de niños con alteración genética y/o neurológica. Para recolectar información se elaboró un cuestionario aplicándose la Guía de Examen Visual para análisis del comportamiento visomotor en los niños. Participaron del estudio 22 niños, de los cuales el 81,8% presentaba Síndrome de Down. De las diez pruebas de que consta la Guía, dos (sonrisa al contacto social y extender el brazo en dirección al objeto visualizado), no fueron respondidas por el 63,6% de los bebés. A pesar de que la población con Síndrome de Down es más sensible a las alteraciones visuales, fue posible constatar que los niños examinados tuvieron un percentil elevado de respuestas positivas, pudiendo asociarse a la estimulación que reciben. El Terapeuta Ocupacional es el profesional habilitado para trabajar en el desarrollo infantil, debiendo estar atento al desarrollo del sistema visual. Como la guía de examen visual nos da respuestas importantes sobre el comportamiento visual de los niños, además de ser capaz de detectar posibles déficits visuales, quedó demostrada la necesidad de su utilización en los servicios de salud por terapeutas capacitados.

Paula Cancino

This paper has been made in order to obtain the professional qualification of Occupational Therapist, an examination of prequalification required by Universidad de Chile. Its aim is to justify the use of movies as a tool for intervention, providing an explicit usefulness in Occupational Therapy (OT from now on), to be settled into a proposed application. The paper addresses the relationship between cinema and the discipline, its rationale from Occupational Science, and also proposes the idea of using movies in the intervention not only from its projection but since its inception; reflects on pending contributions from occupational therapists in their development, and reasons about the utility of the wealth of cinematographic resource in professional intervention.

Smulders Stijn, Kaiser Jean-Pierre, Zuin Stefano et al.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nanomaterials can be contaminated with endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) during production or handling. In this study, we searched for a convenient <it>in vitro</it> method to evaluate endotoxin contamination in nanoparticle samples. We assessed the reliability of the commonly used limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay and an alternative method based on toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 reporter cells when applied with particles (TiO₂, Ag, CaCO₃ and SiO₂), or after extraction of the endotoxin as described in the ISO norm 29701.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results indicate that the gel clot LAL assay is easily disturbed in the presence of nanoparticles; and that the endotoxin extraction protocol is not suitable at high particle concentrations. The chromogenic-based LAL endotoxin detection systems (chromogenic LAL assay and Endosafe-PTS), and the TLR4 reporter cells were not significantly perturbed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We demonstrated that nanoparticles can interfere with endotoxin detection systems indicating that a convenient test method must be chosen before assessing endotoxin contamination in nanoparticle samples.</p>

N. Bagchi, R. Zimmerman

A. Hamilton, I. Selikoff

D. Lundgren, A. Mcfarland

A. Brodsky

Abstract A set of guidelines is proposed as an aid in determining the specific facilities, equipment, and procedures required for operations involving radioactive material. The guidelines are centered around a tabulation that groups the commonly used radionuclides into eight groups corresponding to the relative magnitudes of their maximum radiotoxicities, and then presents curie quantities above which the need for various safeguards should be examined. The eight groups of radiotoxicity are chosen to correspond to the eight orders of magnitude over which the estimated maximum doses per curie range for the various nuclides when they are delivered in a single intake by inhalation.

T. Ogden